There was an evening, and there was a morning: one day.
Genesis 1:5b
Most people I’ve talked to about this question think the days are either literal or it doesn’t matter. They say, why take a stand one way or the other if it doesn’t affect your salvation?
True. However, I know there is controversy among Christians and scholars–that some think the days aren’t literal. In other words, conservative Christians sincerely differ on the meaning of “day” in the creation account.
So, I will briefly lay out both sides of the dispute: young-earth vs. old-earth creationism.
Other views, such as theistic evolution or Darwinism, are not as interested in what Genesis says since they don’t think Scripture is God’s inerrant or authoritative word.
Both young-earth and old-earth creationists agree that Scripture is reliable but come to different conclusions on what “day” means in the first chapter of Genesis.
So, let’s find out what each view believes and why.
Table of Contents
Are the Days in Genesis Literal and Consecutive?
Two groups of conservative Christians differ on the answer to this question. Those who say the days are literal and consecutive point to the plain reading of the creation account and that Scripture supports a literal understanding elsewhere. Whereas, the group who thinks the days aren’t literal or consecutive say it matters that the Hebrew word for “day” is used in more than one way in the creation account, that some things couldn’t have happened in 24 hours, and a young earth doesn’t fit with science. Fortunately, both groups agree that Scripture is authoritative and can be fully trusted even when there is disagreement on interpretation.
Young-Earth Creation
This camp says yes, the days in Genesis are literal; they are consecutive 24-hour periods. And this is why:
- The original readers were former slaves in the wilderness–they would have understood the plain reading of Scripture.
- The six days of creation are consecutively numbered, each comprised of an “evening and morning.”
- Ex 20:8-11 commands a literal week of six days of work and one day of rest based on God’s initial creation in Genesis 1.
- Rom 5:12 tells us that sin entered the world through one man (Adam) and death through sin, but old-earth creationism would have animal death happening before sin.
- Almost everywhere else in Scripture, where the word “day” (Hebrew yom) is used with a number (Gen 8:10) or with the word(s) “evening” and/or “morning” (Lev 7:15), it refers to a literal 24-hour period.
- You can generally tell when “day” is not literal by the context in which it’s written (i.e., Deut 31:17 is easily seen as figurative).
Young-earth creationists accuse old-earth creationists of favoring science over Scripture. So, when an apparent problem arises, old-earth creationists will side with science.
But God created science, so there is no contradiction. Therefore, young-earth creationists will say your interpretation is the problem, not Scripture.
Old-Earth Creation
This group says the days in Genesis are either not consecutive or aren’t literally 24 hours long. They say:
- Young-earth creation, thus 24-hour, consecutive days, poses too many conflicts with scientific facts (see A Matter of Days: Interpreting the First Chapter of Genesis).
- The literal interpretation of “day” in the creation week began with the Reformers in the sixteenth century.
- Genesis 1 doesn’t specifically say there is no time between the days, even if they are literal.
- The Hebrew word Yom has more than one meaning and is used in more than one way in the creation account (Gen 1:5; 2:4).
- If the days are not literal and/or consecutive, the Bible does not tell us how old the earth is.
- God rested on the seventh day and it doesn’t say evening or morning (Gen 2:2-3). Additionally, Hebrews 4:3-11 portrays the Sabbath as continuing to the present time.
- There is no way that Adam could have named all the animals in 24 hours.
See The “Days” of Creation in Genesis 1: Literal or Figurative? for a more in-depth explanation of the “days” in Genesis being used figuratively.
Old-earth creationists say Scripture is reliable, but we must also consider what science tells us. When a problem arises, we must be willing to change our interpretation to fit with the facts. That way, there will be no unnecessary conflict.
RELATED > > > > > When Did Time Begin According to the Bible?
Does It Matter?
Both sides say they have the stronger argument for their interpretation and can’t be persuaded to change. However, honest debate and thoughtful reasoning have often caused people to take note and rethink what they previously believed.
So, it matters in that sense.
Additionally, I’ve heard some say that unbelievers will tell you the Bible can’t be trusted if you don’t even know what certain words mean in their context. And if you don’t know if the earth is old or young, what else can’t you know?
That is a different question that I’m not attempting to answer now.
Since the answer to this question is more of a secondary issue, what you believe “day” in Genesis 1 means isn’t as important as some make it out to be.
What absolutely matters is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is clear and must be defended. God says you can’t get to heaven by being a good person.
In fact, you must be perfect as He is perfect. And since no one can do that, God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth. Jesus lived a perfect life, so God could accept His death on the cross as payment for our sin. Jesus died and three days later rose again, conquering sin and death forever.
Whoever believes will be saved and spend eternity in heaven with God.
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Where I Stand
I am a young earth creationist. I believe God created the world in six literal 24-hour periods. Frankly, I can’t imagine it being any other way.
Even after reading the arguments for the “days” not being literal, I have not changed my mind. Some of their ideas were understandable but not compelling.
I read what God said to Job in Job 38-41 and have the same response as Job did, “I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).
I even imagine old-earth creationists someday saying to God what Job said next: “Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wondrous for me to know” (Job 42:3). But possibly I will be the one to say that instead.
It isn’t hard for me to accept that God is so much bigger than I can imagine. He absolutely could create the world in six consecutive, literal days. And since the plain reading of Genesis 1 says He did, I believe it.
Two thoughts: Some of the old-earth creationists’ arguments can be explained by the flood, and one of my sons believes God is still creating galaxies today and will continue throughout eternity. However, I still think God finished creating at the end of day 6, but I am open to learning more about it.
RELATED > > > > > Is God Still Creating Today? – Ex-Nihilo
Final Thoughts
As you can see, young-earth creationists believe the word “day” in Genesis 1 is literal and means God created the world in six consecutive 24-hour days. They say the plain reading of the creation account is clear and doesn’t conflict with science.
Old-earth creationists say the word “day” in Genesis 1 isn’t literal because it makes no sense. The animals couldn’t be named in 24 hours, and furthermore, science shows us that so many things could not have happened if the world was only thousands of years old.
While answering this question isn’t essential, it is worth sharing with others what and why you believe what you do about the meaning of the word “day” in Genesis 1.
It is equally important to be kind when sharing rather than dogmatic.
Are you a young-earth or old-earth creationist? Why?